Narcolepsy: What It Is, The Treatments And How To Avoid It

Most commonly, Narcolepsy presents itself as an illness called Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, which is abbreviated as EDS. This is the constant feeling tiredness, lacking real energy and wanting to sleep. The sufferer has to make concerted attempts to stay awake, but even though he or she is able to do so, it is often only to achieve a semi wakeful state that onlookers frequently describe as ‘trance like’ or as if the individual is ‘on auto pilot’. At adverse moments, the feeling can be so strong that it may even appear to anyone looking on that the sufferer may be drunk instead.

Usually, people suffering from Narcolepsy and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness need to have a time of sleep before trying to do a particular task.  The failure to prepare in this way can result in a sudden sleep attack while performing the mentioned task. 

EDS is often treated with stimulants, like Ritalin, in the United States.  This drug helps to stimulate the central nervous system in order to keep the people alert and awake.  Other newer drugs are in development that work as comparable ‘wake promoters’.  The second most important characteristic of narcolepsy is cataplexy, which is the sudden loss of control over the muscles in your body.  This can differ in severity from person to person, and many doctors suggest that if the symptoms are not severe enough, treatment should simply be avoided. 

The drugs most frequently used to treat cataplexy are those in the antidepressant range.  Cataplexy isn't directly connected to depression, but the side effects of these drugs tend to affect the neurological pathways that themselves cause cataplexy.  These drugs are typically either tricyclic agents, or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, SSRIs.  Paralysis during sleep and hallucinations could also be left without treatment from drugs unless they're especially severe or extreme.  As they usually only occur throughout the night, they cause less of a problem to the sufferer.  No matter what, the treatments for cataplexy will typically also decrease the severity of these two auxiliary symptoms. 

Strong recommendation comes from other sufferers of narcolepsy – take naps! There is good clinical proof that taking some frequent naps during the day can help offset the symptoms of EDS and cataplexy. There are many people who claim that simply sleeping for a few minutes at a time before performing a task could guard against a sleep attack occurring throughout that task.